(142-147) nations, and I find the Preshyterians just as worthy as any. 1 have been careful in my thoughts, yet held my mind open to conviction. Years of knocking about on the mission field from nearly one end of Canada to the other, has had its effect. When I beeame fully acquainted with the workings behind the scenes, I was astounded. I have felt so many times that our people were not treated fairly, and certainly many of our poor missionaries were shamefully used, and could not defend themselves, I have certainly wondered where the hearts of the older and more prosperous ministers were. The city of is the limit! One city minister told me a few days ago that the church, i. e., the Preshyterian church here, had all gone to the devil. Those were his words, Another minister, a Presbyterian, too, was up to our class on Wednesday last, and is reading the first volume; he knows something is wrong, and what he sees is not Christianity. Is it not strange that so many of our mimisters are down on the truth people! It must be because we hold to the Bible. Say, Brother, take a look behind the scenes and see every big city minister in lay hold of evolution and deny the ransom of Jesus Christ! This year I beeame heartsick aud resolved to remain at home, attend no church, and try to study and love the Bible, as it was the only thing I had worth while. I have not been preaching for awhile on account of poor health, but have been looking on. I knew we should assemble, but where I could not say. It was not at former places. Strange, I had never heard of Bible Students or read Pastor Russell’s books. A friend of mine invited me to a meeting one evening, and I went. On returning home I told Mrs, Farrer that [ had heard more Scripture than I had studied and heard all the while I had been at the coast, all packed into one talk. It was certainly a wonderful talk. It shook me up; I never heard the like, and I told my wife that that man had the best of the argument by a mile. During the following week I got hungry for more, but did not know where to go or what literature to get. However, I knew about the meeting the next Sunday, so I went to see if I could get anything to read. JI did and hurried home to see what I had. JI was not anxious to be seen around the place. I tell you, Brother, I soon found out what a prize I had in that first volume. We had absolutely nothing to compare with the first, fifth and sixth volumes, in college. I have wondered why we did not have them as text books. It was only after I got started in the truth that I knew that Pastor C. T. Russell was the author of the books. I tell you, Brother Adams, I rejoice to be called a fool for Jesus’ sake. I attended Mr. Wilson’s church while down in the city. Poor Wilson, I knew him before I went to college, but he is at sea, in the same boat as we were all in. The fact is we learned nothing much of the Bible at college. I am sending a letter of withdrawal to the Presbytery and will mail you a copy later on. With much Christian love, I am your brother in Christ, W. WH. Farrer. THE PEOPLE FREE? NOT SO THE MINISTERS SOMETHING INTERESTING FROM AN INQUIRING FRIEND I wrote the following to a Presbyterian minister: Dear Sir:--Do you subseribe to the following statement, taken from the Confession of Faith?—‘‘The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption, but their souls (which neither die nor sleep), having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their hodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. souls separated from their bodies, the Seripture acknowledgeth none, “fAt the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.’’—Confession of Faith, Chapter XXXII, 1, 2. The following is the answer from said minister: Dear Mr. :—Perhaps next week I may be able to call and see you, but as we have special meetings this week, I could not do so before. { take it for granted that your inquiry relates to your real relationship to God and is not simply a matter of speculation. For I have no time nor inclination to engage in simple discussion and argument. Life is too short for that. Nor do I care to defend the teachings of theology, which are quite different things from religion, for nobody is asked to accept Presbyterian theology—or even read it—exeept ministers, elders and deacons; you doubtless are aware of that. The first and only thing we require of private members of the church is to aecept Jesus Christ, God incarnate, as Savior and Lord. Sincerely yours, What would be an appropriate answer on my part? THE EDITOR’S REPLY I would not attempt to discuss the matter further with the gentleman, but would merely thank him for his kind letter, and say that, as I was neither a minister nor an elder of the Presbyterian church, my conscience would go free; but that I had a sympathy for elders and ministers. I would proceed to say that, having found something satisfactory on the subject of ‘‘The State of Men after Death, and of the Resurreetion of the Dead’’ (heading of chapter in the ‘‘Confession,’’ from which the extract is copied), I ventured to recommend to him SrupIEs IN THE ScrIPTURES by Pastor Russell, the books which God blessed to my heart and head enlightenment, hoping they might prove a blessing to him also. Dear Brethren: Re the Dayton Flood: The newspaper reports of the number of dead have been much exaggerated. It is indeed sad, and many thrilling experiences and miraculous rescues have been reported. As far as we can learn up to this writing, none of the Dayton ecclesia were drowned, although a number of us have had thrilling experiences and narrow eseapes. The shricks and wails of the panic-stricken people, mingled with the moans of drowning horses, etc., were terrible to hear. It turned our minds to Daniel’s description of the great time of trouble. Sister Pottle and Sister H. F. Rieck were confined to an attic with the writer for about thirty hours before the sisters were rescued by boats. Here the value of the truth was manifested. God’s promised grace to help in time of need was surely manifest, as the sisters were calm and composed. In the most perilous moments, one of the sisters calmly said, ‘*Well, perhaps the time has come.’’ Our experience has been a valuable one. After forty-eight hours of confinement, the writer waded through about four feet of water for four squares, where the troops helped him into a boat and then to the landing. Brother Driscoll, also, will have some thrilling experiences to relate to you. We still have many, many blessings to count. One of the greatest is the knowledge of the truth, and the love of the brethren. This experience will draw us closer together, as we have learned of the dear brethren’s anxiety and efforts for our rescue, Beloved, remember us kindly at the throne of grace, that we may be meek, humble and serviceable. Your brother by participation, P. D. Porrnur—Dayton, Ohio. Vou. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 15, 1913 No. 10 A CONVINCING PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION ‘Be not faithless, but believing.’’—John 20:27 Previous to the occasion of the words of our text, St. believe on any such testimony as he had received. He said, Thomas, the Apostle, had not been present at any of the manifestations of Jesus after his resurrection. Thomas seems to have been of a rather skeptical turn of mind. He heard the other apostles telling about what they had seen, about the manifestations that had taken place, and he felt that on such evidences he could not believe in the resurrection of Jesus. He thought that his brethen had been too easily deceived. St. Thomas did not accredit his fellow disciples with an attempt at deceiving him; but as he declared, he would not “Unless I see the spear mark, unless I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not helieve.’’ You cannot convince me that he is not dead. You cannot convince me that a person put to death after that manner is again alive. I cannot say where the deception came from, but you brethren are too easily deceived. A week later, Jesus appeared in the ‘‘upper room’’ a second time. After saluting the company, he said to St. [5236]
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